Sweden has attributed a notable increase in GPS signal jamming incidents in the Baltic Sea to Russian interference, raising aviation safety concerns in the area. The Swedish Transport Agency (STA) reported that disruptions have escalated in frequency over recent years, with 733 incidents recorded in 2025 alone, compared to 55 for the entirety of 2023.
According to the STA, the source of the interference has been identified as being within Russian territory, affecting both civil aviation and shipping. Other European countries have also pointed to Russia as a likely contributor to the jamming, while Moscow has denied these allegations. The report comes shortly after an incident involving a plane carrying Ursula von der Leyen, President of the European Commission, which encountered interference during its flight. The pilots reportedly had to rely on paper maps for landing, although they managed to do so safely.
Andreas Holmgren, the head of aviation at STA, characterized the situation as serious, indicating that the geographic spread and scope of jamming incidents have expanded beyond formerly affected eastern regions into Swedish land and waters. Air operators in the Baltic region have reported tens of thousands of GPS jamming occurrences over recent years.
In June, Sweden, along with Estonia, Finland, Latvia, Lithuania, and Poland, presented the issue to the Council of the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), calling on Russia to cease these disturbances. The ICAO expressed significant concern but noted that disruptions have continued to rise.
Although numerous European governments attribute responsibility for these incidents to Russia as part of a broader strategy to undermine regional security, no concrete evidence has yet been established linking Russia to the rise in GPS jamming. Bulgaria’s aviation authority also acknowledged an increase in GPS incidents since the onset of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in 2022. While alternatives to GPS navigation exist, mid-flight jamming could heighten collision risks. The UK’s Civil Aviation Authority has downplayed the jamming’s significance, asserting that aircraft navigation systems are not solely dependent on GPS.
Source: https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/clyx3ly54veo?at_medium=RSS&at_campaign=rss